The new research, commissioned by British Music Rights, will be a smack in the mouth to those who have written off the mass of music available on peer-to-peer filesharing sites as the work of a tiny minority.

In fact, 42% of those surveyed say they have uploaded files. Further sobering reading is delivered by the Music Experience and Behaviour in Young People study, conducted by the Music and Entertainment Industry Management Programme at the University of Hertfordshire.

The industry will ...